Carol Album: Seven Centuries of Christmas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Most people think of Christmas carols as originating from ancient--or at least olden-times, and indeed, many of the most enduring ones have survived for many centuries. Andrew Parrott and his Taverner Consort take us back seven centuries, in fact, and thoughtfully mix the old tunes ("Swete was the song," "This endere nyghth," "Nova! nova!") with more recent tunes. Parrott's musicians offer interesting takes on such familiar carols as "Silent Night" and "God rest ye merry, gentlemen." "Silent Night" sounds like an Austrian folk tune, complete with guitar accompaniment that reportedly was used in its original performance; "God rest ye..." is performed in the style of an English country church congregation--and uses a different tune from the one we usually hear. Various period instruments add to the color and flavor, and the arrangements are original and very effective. --David Vernier

Tracks:

Veni, veni Emmanuel
Stille Nacht
Il est ne, le devin Envant
Nova! Nova!
Marche des rois
The Babe of Bethlehem
Verbum caro: Y la Virgen
Glory to God on High
This endere nyghth
O Jesulein suess
Il est ne, le devin Enfant (Instrumental Version)
God rest you merry, gentlemen
Swete was the song the Virgine soong
Quem pastores laudavere
Quanno nascente ninno
Riu, riu, chiu
Gabriel fram heven-king
Christum wir sollen loben schon
The Coventry Carol
Gaudete!
Verbum caro: In hac anni circulo
Alleluya: A nywe werk is come on honde
The Old Year now away is fled
Branle de l'Officiel (Ding! Dong! Merrily on high)

Amazon.com

Most people think of Christmas carols as originating from ancient--or at least olden-times, and indeed, many of the most enduring ones have survived for many centuries. Andrew Parrott and his Taverner Consort take us back seven centuries, in fact, and thoughtfully mix the old tunes ("Swete was the song," "This endere nyghth," "Nova! nova!") with more recent tunes. Parrott's musicians offer interesting takes on such familiar carols as "Silent Night" and "God rest ye merry, gentlemen." "Silent Night" sounds like an Austrian folk tune, complete with guitar accompaniment that reportedly was used in its original performance; "God rest ye..." is performed in the style of an English country church congregation--and uses a different tune from the one we usually hear. Various period instruments add to the color and flavor, and the arrangements are original and very effective. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Christmas CD of all time.......2006-12-21

This collection of Christmas music strives for authenticity in performance, right down to Old French pronunciation in "Il est né le divin enfant." The carols are of varying antiquity and presented, not in order of age, but in an order that makes for an enjoyable listening experience, by contrast. There is precision in singing, use of period instruments, and presentation in original languages. It all adds up to excellence. Further, it brings joy and delight to the receptive ear.

Another reviewer said there wasn't any joy in these performances, and I say, "Humbug!" As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, joy is in the ear of the listener, and I couldn't receive this music without being transported to bliss.

As to the first track ("Veni, Veni Emmanuel") and audibility issues many have complained about, it's apparent that the a capella singing gets louder and louder as the chant progresses and we, the listeners, are being given the experience of sitting in a large cathedral as the choristers make their processional from the distant back of the nave up the center aisle and into the choir stalls in the chancel. That's why the music is barely audible at first and gets gradually louder, until it has full of volume. It's also why it's the very first track -- the choristers are processing in to begin the concert.

Hearing "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" performed using its original tune and what is held to be and very likely is the original guitar accompaniment from 1818 was a revelation -- I no longer sing the "improved" version of the tune that has become universal. It has the character of a Tyrolean folk song, light, joyous, reverent, and close to the hearts of the people singing and hearing it in that small Alpine church.

In fact, what's great about this album is that each carol conveys its original joy. The experience is enhanced by the welcome notes in the accompanying booklet that tell you about the history and background of each carol, the particulars of the version being performed, and more.

This CD is like a box of See's chocolates for the ear. The Taverner Consort, Singers and Players eventually came out with a second volume ("The Carol Album 2") and that's definitely worth having, too.

$9.99 at iTunes... just thought I'd mention it.......2006-12-05

CD sounds divine. If you want this album, thought you might like to know iTunes has it available for download for $9.99. I just mention that since most sellers are treating it like a hard-to-get collector's item, and charging some startling prices even for used copies.

My Very Favourite Christmas Album.......2005-12-25

Not only is this my own favourite, but so many friends have fallen in love with it hearing me playing it over the Christmas season, that I have frequently bought it as a (much appreciated!) Christmas gift. A wonderfully diverse mix of earlier Christmas music, performed with freshness and vigour. If I could only have one album of Christmas music in my collection, this would be it. (Messiah doesn't really count does it? It's not officially Christmas music!!)

Something different -- very enjoyable.......2001-12-16

If this very stylish album does not have something that will please you, you are just too hard to please. With carols spanning seven centuries, in French, German, and English, from the old world and the new, this is a comprehensive survey of the Christmas carol.

The performances are not arranged chronologically, but rather in contrasting and complimentary order, alternating unaccompanied with accompanied, vocal with instrumental. Both the vocal and instrumental ensembles have a range of styles and sonorities. Compare, for example, the brash open sound of "The Babe of Bethlehem" and "Glory to God on High" with the restrained pure sound of "This endere nyghth" or the full sound of "Christum wir sollen loben schon."

The booklet contains notes and texts as well as a list of players, but do not identify the various soloists.

fresh and witty.......2001-12-12

If you've never strayed into the Early Music racks, start here! And if you have 30" of Christmas CDs in your collection and half of them are Early Music and traditional, you're still going to love this! No muddy, pretentious, over-orchestrated stuff here. Just period instruments or fresh voices, and some gentle musical jokes. (The little-sung and wonderfully rhythmic "March of the Kings" instrumental starts out barely audible in the distance with the jingle of harness and bells, grows louder, then fades in the distance as though the magi and their magnificent procession had passed on. And "Il est ne', le divin enfant", which mentions the reedy voice of the musette, is played on one.)

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